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HOW NOW, HOWMET? Pechiney International will sell its turbine components business, including the Howmet castings plant in Hampton, to a joint venture between Thiokol Corp. and Carlyle Group. The $750 million sale is not expected to result in any local layoffs.
NOT THE DAILY GRIND. Tyrolit Corp., a manufacturer of industrial grinding wheels, will invest $35 million to turn its Newport News warehouse into a factory. The company plans to buy nearly six acres of city-owned land in Oakland Industrial Park and more than double the size of its existing 46,000-square-foot building. The expansion will create between 50 and 100 jobs.
CARRIER-ING ON? Navy boss Adm. Mike Boorda plans to begin next year seeking the billions needed to buy at least one more Nimitz-class aircraft carrier from Newport News Shipbuilding. However, it could be the last Nimitz-class carrier - and possibly the last nuclear-powered carrier - built by the yard. The Navy plans to study what the next generation of carriers should look like over the next 15 years.
BEVY OF BOSSES. The Business Council, a coalition of roughly 100 top executives from the nation's corporate giants, gathered in Williamsburg to give and to get. The execs advised policymakers to scrap the income tax system, lower interest rates and balance the federal budget by 2005. President Clinton and top aides, meanwhile, came down to put their spin on the state of the nation.
BIZ BITES I ... Blue-collar workers at Norshipco, South Hampton Roads' largest shipyard, will vote this week to extend their current labor pact through 1997. ... Lykes Bros. which last year carried 10 percent of the cargo that moved through the Norfolk International Terminals, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. ... Lillian Vernon Corp. will buy back up to 1 million shares, or nearly 10 percent, of the company's stock in an effort to boost the prices of the shares.


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It is no secret that many of the big on-line Slot Gacor Hari Ini companies are likely to be busy in the coming years snapping up other poker operations or floating on stock markets. Already this week, the stock market valuation of 888 Holdings on the London market has hit record highs as rumours circulate about the predatory intentions of Ladbrokes in the aftermath of its multi-billion pound deal to hive off its Hinton hotels chain. The chatter in the City seems to have focussed on 888 Holdings, the owner of the on-line 888 Casino-On-Net and Pacific Poker operations, both of which have leading positions in their respective markets.
Ladbrokes owns one of the biggest European poker rooms, Ladbrokespoker.com, whereas Pacific Poker is predominantly US-focussed, and the fourth largest worldwide, so from an on-line poker perspective, there is a neat fit. The same can probably be said of the Ladbrokes betting operations and the US dominated 888.com, which between them cover Europe and the USA comfortably.
A further twist arises because City analysts have noted that 888 Chief Executive, John Anderson, is an ex-employee of Ladbrokes, whilst, overall, the City believes 888 Holdings is cheaply rated making it an attractively priced target.
This development is one of many more that seem sure to emerge as the internet poker sector consolidates and original founders sell out in a hot market.
In a separate report in The Times, it is said that the owners of Pokerstars, an Israeli family, are considering selling their interests in the top on-line company. The company’s centre of operations was recently moved to the Isle of Man and it is understood that a City merchant bank has been appointed to oversee the next moves.
Pokerstars is the second largest on-line poker company behind already-floated Party Gaming, and whilst a flotation for Pokerstars is a possibility, there is also plenty of City talk suggesting the likes of Ladbrokes, William Hill or even 888 Holdings itself (also Israeli-controlled) might be interested in buying Pokerstars.
The wheels of the rumour mill are likely to to start grinding faster with each day. Already so far, there is speculation about Ladbrokes being alternatively the hunter or the hunted, and now it seems the same applies to 888.com.
Whatever happens, it is becoming clear that the promised consolidation of the internet poker industry is gathering some early momentum. We will be watching this space with interest.

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CAIRO: A total of 31 tax evasion cases valued at 103 million EGP ($14 million) were tracked on Friday, Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The commercial and business-related tax evasion cases were detected in Egypt’s 27 governorates, the ministry’s General Directorate of Taxes Investigation said, adding that legal actions have been taken separately for each incident.
According to the statement, 4 cases of customs evasions were caught by the taxes investigation directorate, with total sales reached 8.2 million EGP. The smuggled products include foreign-manufactured goods, clothes, electronics and cars.
According to the Finance Ministry statement in February, Egypt’s tax revenues do not exceed 15% of the country’s GDP.
Interim President Adly Mansour issued in December 2013 a new law permitting reconciliation in the current disputes between taxpayers and the government.


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DUESSELDORF, Germany, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Advent International said it would not increase its 1.5 billion euro ($1.9 billion) offer for German retailer Douglas, even though it is a way from gaining enough shares.
“We will not add another cent to the 38 euros offered,” managing director Ranjan Sen told Reuters on Thursday.
A regulatory filing showed shareholders representing 55.07 percent of Douglas’ stock had accepted the offer.
Advent, which has teamed up with the Douglas founding family for the bid, needs to cross the 75 percent threshold for the offer to succeed.
Advent already had commitments from the family, plus two of the retailer’s big shareholders, giving it 50.5 percent.
The offer period runs until Dec. 4 and typically investors only tender shares at the last minute.
“Dec. 4 is the decisive day,” Sen said. “We hope that all those involved share our belief that 38 euros a share is a very attractive offer.”
Shares in Douglas were unchanged at 37.75 euros at 1425 GMT. ($1 = 0.7746 euros) (Reporting by Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Helen Massy-Beresford)


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By Patrick Aguda / June 10th, 2023
Tsukihimates, a fan translation group, has released a trailer announcing some exciting news regarding Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-. They will be releasing their newest patch, the Full Moon Patch, on June 17, 2023.
The Full Moon Patch fully translates Ciel’s route, and also includes additional edits and TLC for the Common and Arcueid routes. They previously released the Half Moon Patch almost a year ago which partially translated the game, only the Common and Arcueid routes. With the release of this newest patch, fans will finally be able to read through this visual novel from start to finish in English.
You can check out Tsukihimates’ trailer for the patch below.
Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- launched in Japan for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on August 26, 2021. It is a remake of Tsukihime which released back in 2000 for PC. For more information on the English translation, you can check out Tsukihimates’ website and Twitter account.
fan translationnintendo switchPS4translation patchTsukihimatesTsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-Tsukihime RemakeTYPE-MOONvisual novel


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For the year ending March 2018 Australia attracted an all time record of just over nine million international tourists representig a 7.7% growth ovr the previous year
Thanks to the strong resistance of the tourism industry, the Federal Government recently amended its decision to tax WHM visitors
The cost of providing essential infrastructure, security and services for tourists should contribute to the cost of these services on the basis of user pays
Working holiday visas are designed to foster goodwill between the youth of the world
STA Travel launches new Backpacker stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns to cater to rise in demand for backpack travel over the coming year.


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Google has announced new measures that will limit tracking across its Android operating system, following a similar move by Apple to introduce restraints in the way the online advertising industry can target users.
The changes, which will not be implemented for at least two years, are intended to curb the sharing of user data with third parties, restricting advertising tracking for users who move between different apps on billions of devices running Android.
Google said it planned to eventually phase out advertising IDs, a code that allows marketers to track individual user behaviour, in favour of alternatives that protected user data while still supporting advertising efforts.
Apple introduced privacy measures last year, allowing users to completely opt-out of tracking on iPhones in a move that has shaken the $400 billion (€352 billion) digital advertising industry. Facebook’s parent Meta says Apple’s changes have resulted in about $10 billion in lost revenues.
Apple and Google, two of the largest smartphone makers in the world, are responding to growing concerns about privacy to provide greater control to users over their data. But while Apple makes the majority of its revenue from selling devices such as the iPhone, Google generates more from digital advertising.
Google has distanced itself from Apple’s stringent measures, but its plan still marks a significant change in how advertisers can operate on Android. “The goal is to develop effective solutions that don’t need device-level identifiers and limit user-level tracking across different developers’ apps,” the company said.
It intended to consult companies on the new measures and give them time to implement them, hitting out at rivals “bluntly restricting existing technologies used by developers and advertisers”.
Opt-out of sharing
Android users were already able to opt-out of sharing their IDs, in changes announced last June, but Google plans to replace them entirely over time.
The Privacy Sandbox initiative was launched for web users of Google products in 2019 in an attempt to limit third-party cookies online. Existing potential solutions in Privacy Sandbox collect users’ data into broad interest groups, rather than revealing individual-level insights.
Google is testing initial proposals to bring the Privacy Sandbox project to Android over the next few months, but the current system will remain in place for at least the next two years.
The company is in discussions with developers about the new designs and how to improve user privacy without compromising the ability of advertisers to monetise through personalised campaigns. It is already working with Activision Blizzard, DoorDash, Duolingo and Snap to develop the plans.
Google added that it was committed to not giving preferential treatment to its own ad products or sites and had shared proposals with all Android developers. More than 90 per cent of apps on the Google Play store are free, often relying on advertising to sustain their business. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2022


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Canadian studio to comb New Mexico landfill for bad Atari games
E.T. thought by some to be one of the worst video games of all time.
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ALAMOGORDO, N.M.—A New Mexico city commission has agreed to allow a Canadian studio to search an old landfill where old, terrible Atari games are rumored to be buried.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports that Alamogordo commissioners will allow Fuel Industries to search the landfill for games. It has offices in Ottawa and Los Angeles.
One sought game, the E.T. video game, is thought by some gamers to be one of the worst video games of all time.
Atari paid Steven Spielberg tens of millions of dollars to license the E.T. name, and the dud of a game caused the troubled company’s worth to sink even further at the time.
Alamogordo Commissioner Jason Baldwin says he played the E.T. game and it was horrible.
- Canadian airlines must now have two crew in cockpit at all times
- CBC eliminates 144 more jobs in new round of cuts
- NEW Against all odds, Legal Aid Ontario is getting better: Goar
- Updated York Region votes to help pay for subway shortfall
- NEW Canadian retailers move past the Target era
- NEW PM's Syrian decision rolled out with arrogance and laziness: Tim Harper
- Memorial stone for slain homeless woman found near waste bins
- Video NEW Raptors' Vasquez represents a city, brand and entire country
Twitter’s streaming app launched later than Meerkat, which build up steam during South by Southwest. Which will come out on top?


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PRWeb was the first to report that Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc had partnered with GeoComply to supply geolocation services to US mobile phone as well as PC users. The company made this move as part of its preparations to launch online poker products at Atlantic City in New Jersey and to enter legalized and regulated online poker markets in other US states.
Nevada has already issued a Class III license to GeoComply, and this license enables the company to supply geolocation services to Nevada-licensed providers of online poker services. Besides, the company has also applied for a similar license in New Jersey.
Poker sites require geolocation services so that they can find out the precise geographic location of their poker customers. For instance, Nevada’s online poker regulations require players to be based in Nevada in order to play legally at Nevada-licensed online poker rooms. Nevada-licensed online poker rooms therefore require geolocation services to find out if customers are located within Nevada. If a player in New Jersey tries to register for a real play account at a Nevada-licensed online poker room, geolocation services will determine the player’s location and block him/her from the site.
GeoComply has issued a press release, in which it states that Bwin.party selected it because of its “ability to deliver on the high standards of compliance required by regulators in the United States.”
Anna Sainsbury, chief executive officer for GeoComply USA, said: “We are thrilled to have won this tender and to now be working with Bwin.party in such an exciting new market.”
She further said: “As a specialist company focused on the iGaming space, we are very much looking forward to assisting bwin.party in delivering to the gold standard of iGaming compliance in geolocation technologies.”
Now that it has roped in a highly reputed supplier of geolocation services, Bwin.party’s online poker product has become better than ever. Since federal lawmakers are still unable to frame online poker laws, Bwin.party’s move will help it compete effectively when other US states legalize and regulate online poker, as they are expected to do in the near future.
GeoComply focuses on serving regulated financial, iGaming, and digital rights industries and collaborates effectively with its clients to improve the quality of its services. Those interested can learn more at http://www.geocomply.com.
Bwin.party, which was formed in 2011 by the merger of Bwin Interactive Entertainment AG and PartyGaming Plc, has been licensed in France, Gibraltar, Italy, Denmark, and Spain.


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FTX, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, recently went bankrupt.
Several billion dollars in value evaporated in minutes when this unhealthy institution collapsed.
It created a true “blood in the streets” moment, weighing heavily on the price of Bitcoin.
Bitcoiner Matt Odell summed it up best:
“It’s a story of fiat inducements, shitcoin games, regulatory corruption and counterparty risk that ended in inevitable disaster. It will serve as a costly reminder that bitcoin held in self-custody is unique in its zero counterparty risk. You can easily and cheaply store it yourself and send it around the world without trusting anyone or asking permission. Learn how to hold bitcoin yourself and how to use it sovereignly.
It should be pointed out that FTX, and other similar companies, are not at all the same thing as Bitcoin – an emerging global currency that no one can inflate or control and which is accessible to everyone.
For example, suppose an unscrupulous gold storage company has become insolvent. This would not mean that the gold is defective.
The collapse of FTX will undoubtedly be a drag on the price of Bitcoin in the short term. But on the bright side, it will help cleanse the industry of bad actors and offer crucial lessons.
I don’t expect the collapse of FTX to have a lasting negative effect on Bitcoin.
Bitcoin has been through several more explosive incidents in the past and emerged stronger than ever (see the 2014 Mt. Gox bankruptcy, for example).
However, I expect Bitcoin to remain volatile, as it has always been since its inception.
Something is wrong with the lack of value to the importance of global money without volatility.
For example, Bitcoin has fallen from zero value in 2009 to $69,000 in November 2021 to around $17,000 today, down more than 75% from its previous peak.
It is essential to keep in mind that recent volatility is normal.
It is common for Bitcoin to have large corrections of 50% or more, which has happened eight times. Additionally, there have been three occasions where Bitcoin has declined by 80% or more.
If you zoom out and look at the big picture, Bitcoin’s volatility has mostly been on the upside over the long term.
Say you go back four years ago and tell someone that Bitcoin “crashed” to $16,000. It would have been so amazing that you would probably be laughed out of the room.
Bitcoin continues to rebound stronger than ever due to the fundamentals underlying this megatrend. This is a new and superior form of money in the early stages of adoption.
The monetization of a new global currency is unlike anything anyone has ever seen. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s an inherently volatile process.
As adoption grows and Bitcoin becomes more established as a currency, volatility should subside, but likely at a much higher price. That’s why you want to buy Bitcoin – and the best Bitcoin mining stocks (more on that below) – before the rest of the world discovers its superior monetary properties, namely its complete inflation resistance of its supply.
It will be a wild ride – like a violent roller coaster – but I think it will reward patient investors.
Bitcoin’s volatility is the price we have to pay to earn outsized gains as it undergoes the monetization process.
Here is the bottom line.
Investors will face volatility in Bitcoin for the foreseeable future.
Instead of looking anxiously at price charts daily, I suggest focusing on the big picture and the fundamentals of the underlying trend.
The key is to understand the disruption before most, invest early, and have positions small enough to ride the megatrend without worrying about volatility crushing you at the worst possible time.
Whenever you see volatility in the price of Bitcoin, ask yourself two things:
1) Does Bitcoin still have superior monetary properties (total inflation resistance of its supply)?
2) Is Bitcoin still unstoppable?
If the answer to both of these questions is “Yes”, I wouldn’t be too worried.
With that in mind, let’s take a close look at three crucial strategies that can help tame Bitcoin’s wild volatility.
Strategy #1: Average Dollar Cost (DCA)
The best way to buy Bitcoin is to avoid buying it in one big purchase.
Instead, given the volatility of Bitcoin, a long-term Dollar Cost Average (DCA) approach is optimal.
For example, suppose you want to invest $10,000 in Bitcoin. Instead of buying $10,000 all at once, buy about $192 every week for a year.
DCA greatly reduces the risk of buying too much at the top of a cycle and not buying at the bottom.
This is how DCA can turn Bitcoin’s volatility in your favor.
Swan Bitcoin offers a convenient platform that automates DCA purchases for you, including withdrawals to your own wallet, which is essential for eliminating counterparty risk. I have personally used it and found their service helpful.
More details can be found at the link above, including a useful calculator that displays a DCA strategy’s performance in the past and a $10 free Bitcoin bonus for signing up with this link.
Strategy #2: Don’t let anyone else hold your Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital bearer instrument. A bearer security gives whoever owns it ownership of it.
If you hold your Bitcoin on Coinbase or another platform, you don’t really own your Bitcoin and are taking on significant counterparty risk. Instead, you own a Bitcoin IOU, which is something quite different, as FTX customers are currently finding out.
It’s much safer to keep your Bitcoin off the exchange’s website in your own self-service wallet, where you control the private keys.
For starters, start with the Muun Wallet or the Blockstream Green Wallet for your phone. Both are excellent choices and are among the easiest to use. BlueWallet is a good choice for intermediate users on mobile phones. Finally, Electrum and Sparrow Wallet are great options for laptops and desktop computers, which are often more secure than a mobile phone.
Whichever self-service wallet you use, ALWAYS make sure you have backed up your wallet correctly. Each wallet is different and will give you instructions for making the backup. This way you won’t lose your funds if you lose your phone or laptop.
It is crucial to complete this step when setting up your self-service wallet, as it is the ONLY way to recover your funds if something happens to your device. Bitcoin has no customer service.
Strategy #3: Have a four-year time horizon
Plan to hold Bitcoin for at least four years, through a halving cycle.
According to its fixed protocol, we know precisely how the supply of Bitcoin will increase in the future. A key feature is that the new supply is halved every four years, a process known as halving.
Rarely has there been a period when the price of Bitcoin was lower than it was four years ago. When this happened, it was fantastic buying opportunities. But, of course, past performance does not indicate future results.
The 200-week moving average (200 WMA) is a useful metric because it contains nearly four years of price data, roughly the length of a halving cycle. Historically, the 200 WMA has been a good indication of the Bitcoin price floor.
As we can see in the chart above, now is one of those rare times when Bitcoin price is trading below its 200 WMA.
However, the opportunity may soon be gone.
Historically, Bitcoin’s biggest upside moves happen very quickly…especially in the midst of a financial crisis.
With several crises unfolding right now, the next big move could be imminent.
That’s why I just published an urgent PDF report, it’s called:
The Most Dangerous Economic Crisis in 100 Years…The Top 3 Strategies You Need Right Now
It details how this could all unfold soon…and what you can do about it. Click here to download the PDF now.


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Testing the Waters: How Do Big Brands Market Their LGD Jewelry?
A recent article written by diamond analyst Paul Zimnisky on Solitaire, an B2B gem and jewellery magazine published by India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), examines the LGD jewellery marketing strategies of the renowned global jewellery brands.
Titled “How the Largest Jewellery Companies in the World Are Marketing Lab-Grown Diamonds”, the article looks at how some big names in the diamond jewellery industry – among them Pandora, Swarovski and Signet – are trying to boost their LGD-set pieces to their customers.
Pandora, for instance, has just recently entered the lab-grown diamonds business. Its new LGD line, “Pandora Brilliance”, is being tested in the UK, and offers an “initial price point that ranges from £250 ($340) for a 0.15-carat lab-diamond set in silver to £1,290 ($1,765) for a 1.0-carat stone set in gold.”
With 6,700 points of sale in more than 100 countries, “Pandora is likely the largest jewellery company in the world to enter the lab-diamond space,” says Zimnisky. According to Pandora’s CEO Alexander Lacik, Pandora’s lab-diamond strategy “is a means to “democratise” diamonds, making them “affordable” to a larger population.” Pandora’s marketing approach, Zimnisky explains, “is more “fashion-jewellery” oriented – positioning the product primarily to cater to a new consumer base rather than the existing diamond-buying demographic.”
Signet Jewelers, the largest jeweller in the US, started to sell “a limited amount of lab-diamonds with bridal options in 2019.” However, Signet doesn’t seem to aggressively market its LGD products; for instance, its Zales’ website “still prominently displays natural diamonds on the landing page, with no mention of lab-diamonds.”
Another large diamond jewellery retailer, Tiffany & Co., as well as iconic high-jewellers such as Cartier and Bulgari, “do not include lab-diamonds in their merchandise assortment.”
Read the full article here


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We’re glued to our screens, small, large, and in-between – but will we be tethered to some more than others?
By Anne-Frances Hutchinson
Are media consumers getting ready to cut the cord for good? If you’ve watched television lately, you’ve likely seen the harbingers of doom dancing in the premium broadcast graveyard as big media firms shift from traditional pay television to connected TV and mobile streaming services.
While traditional players were ruminating on how to capitalize on the changes to media consumption that had been brewing as technologies and content delivery strategies evolved, the pandemic came to call. The M&E industry took a savage hit as the closure of theaters, film, and television productions, and the suspension of sporting events and live music venues cut off the flow of new content and new revenues.
At the same time, stay-at-home orders vastly increased the demand for content, pushing legacy players to rethink strategies and ramp up their streaming efforts. NBCUniversal, Warner Media, and others were stunned as their stock prices plummeted. ViacomCBS, lauded as a pioneer with its 2014 debut of the CBS All Access streaming service, was no different; in March 2020, their stock languished at $11 per share.
In recent years, the service had gained momentum and media buzz with a slate of original niche programming that included reboots of the cult-favorite Star Trek franchise, a CBS property. By May 2020, the company had forged a deal with YouTube TV that made its cable programming available to Google’s digital multichannel video programming distributor, an industry first.
They also announced the rebranding of CBS All Access to Paramount Plus, offering live sports, a sweeping selection of programming from the company’s cable and broadcast networks, including BET, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon, as well as news and more original content. In addition to connected TV, content can be accessed via XBox, Playstation, Roku, smartphones and other devices. On March 18, 2021, Viacom’s stock price closed at $96.76, their all-time closing high.
As media analyst Michael Nathanson recently told the Los Angeles Times, “Companies that have prioritized investment spending for growth have been rewarded. There is such a higher valuation put on streaming companies that everyone has a green light to be more aggressive to try to build (streaming services).”
The move to mobile
According to Nielsen, 60% of Americans subscribe to more than one paid video streaming service, and 93% plan to keep existing subscriptions and sign up for new ones. “Consumers in OTT-capable homes are spending nearly one-fifth (19%) of their TV time streaming content, be it through ad-supported or paid subscription models,” their report stated. “That’s a hefty amount of the already large media diet of audiences today, especially considering that the medium has only existed for a relatively short period of time. Not to mention, it’s a prime opportunity to easily reach consumers in the digital age, using interfaces that feel familiar and comfortable to them.”
Consumers are streaming more than ever across multiple screens. (Admit it: by now, we’ve all streamed content on our smartphones during TV commercials or as the credits roll.) According to Adjust Media’s 2021 Mobile Streaming Report, the number of consumers using mobile streaming in the U.S. has jumped by 49.89% since the pandemic’s onset.
“Mobile streaming is more than a new twist on the TV model; it requires a new mindset – and new data – to address the opportunity and address the results. By understanding how consumers stream, as well as which channels drive the most value and deliver the highest marketing impact, the potential to build a large user base with high lifetime value (LTV) is huge,” they stressed.
Globally, most consumers are mobile streaming at least once a day. China is leading the trend with over 98% of users streaming every day to once a week, in contrast to the U.S., where that number falls to 69.4%. When they choose to stream, the ease and availability of content across a range of devices is keeping users glued to their smartphones for at least an hour regardless of age or geographic locations. GenZ devotees stream for 90 minutes a day.
There’s not much of a generation gap when it comes to usage, with 58% of users 55 and over streaming content via mobile at least once a week. Over 35% of boomers stream video and TV on their smartphones every day.
“Traditional TV viewers stay glued longer, but mobile viewers are closing the gap,” they pointed out. While American viewers watch traditional pay television for 108 minutes at a time, they stream for 78 minutes. As for the economic impact, audiences are willing to spend to access the content they enjoy; on average, Americans spend $33.55 for streaming and on-demand programs each month.
That was quick: is the boom about to bust?
At a January National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) event, Maria Rua Aguete, an analyst from telecom, media, and tech research firm Omdia, revealed that the pandemic introduced over 226 million new subscribers to video streaming services, making 2020 one of the industry’s best years ever. Amazon Prime, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, and Netflix were at the top of the fastest growing streaming services list.
This year, NATPE is anticipating a pronounced downward shift for the fantastic four, a consequence of pulling projected subscription income forward and depleting the number of potential new subscribers. The quest for new revenue streams will be important work if the leaders are to maintain their dominance in the sector.
Variety’s Jamie Lang reported, “Other opportunities could arise in diversifying away from simply streaming and partnering outside of film and TV production, such as gaming, podcasts, music and, in what Rua Aguete described as the Disney-fication of the industry, merchandise. She even went as far as to suggest that a major platform like Netflix might consider buying an existing merchandise manufacturer to emulate the money-making machine that Disney has with its retail business.”
Deadline’s Wade Hayes addressed the biggest question the industry is currently facing – where does big media go from here? “Even if they scale up … media companies are going to need to change or risk extinction. Serving consumers directly as opposed to wholesaling content through TV operators, movie theaters and other third parties is a new set of muscles to develop. Amazon, Apple, Roku and other tech companies have long controlled customer data. … Others have been content to trade data or advertising inventory in exchange for gaining subscribers. And then there is Netflix, of course. While it operates as an entertainment entity in many ways, it remains very much a tech firm at its core, with reams of data dating to its founding in 1997.”
There’s no question that mobile streaming is the hottest video delivery mechanism today. Finances Online researcher James Anthony noted, “This growth is being fueled in part by mobile networks’ rush to offer broadband and LTE services. Partnerships between streaming services and mobile networks are mushrooming. These partnerships offer customer incentives in exchange for increased content consumption. … Cord-cutting activity is expected to continue in the coming years as mobile channels grow from content bundling and subsidies.”


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Flat panel display (FPD) market research and consulting firm DisplaySearch has released Q3'04 results and forward-looking projections for the large-area TFT LCD and PDP markets in its Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report and Quarterly Plasma Display Panel Shipment & Forecast Report. These reports revealed that large-area TFT LCD shipments and revenues declined after an extended period of record results while PDP units and revenues continue to set record highs. The reports also reveal potential concerns regarding supply constraints in the second half of 2005.
In the case of large-area TFT LCDs, the streak of seven consecutive quarters of record unit shipments and five consecutive quarters of record revenue results finally came to an end. Unit shipments dropped two percent Q/Q, as expected, as the anticipated 10 percent decline in LCD monitor module shipments more than offset nine percent growth in notebooks, four percent growth in LCD TVs and 22 percent growth in other applications. LCD monitor module shipments fell due to a prolonged period of price increases in a price-elastic market, generating inventories of more than three million panels and LCD monitors in Q2'04.
The decline in large-area units along with healthy growth in capacity caused the seasonal large-area TFT LCD surplus to jump from three percent in Q2'04 to 15 percent in Q3'04, resulting in tremendous pricing pressure.
Although record unit shipments are expected in Q4'04 and Q1'05 due to lower prices stimulating demand, the ASP declines should outweigh the unit growth, resulting in continued declines in revenues.
While the surplus narrowed to 10 percent in Q4'04, it is expected to widen in Q1'05 on seasonal weakness. Despite the larger surplus, the rate of ASP decline is expected to slow in Q1'05 to five percent due to the faster than expected declines in Q3'04 and Q4'04 and the fact that prices for most 14in-17in panels are already below cost for most suppliers.
Other data from the report included:
- Notebook module shipments rose nine percent Q/Q.
- LCD monitor module shipments fell 10 percent in Q3'04, as expected, while rising 24 percent Y/Y to 17.6 million units due to excessive inventories created in Q2'04.
- LCD TV module shipments grew four percent Q/Q and 125 percent Y/Y in Q3'04, seven percent faster sequentially than predicted, to three million units. LCD TV panels are expected to rise 11 percent Q/Q and 61 percent Y/Y in Q4'04 and 6 percent Q/Q and 52 percent Y/Y in Q1'05.
In terms of overall supplier performance, Q3'04 was down for nearly all suppliers with only Hitachi, Sharp and Toppoly enjoying sequential revenue growth. For the publicly traded large-area TFT LCD suppliers revealing detailed financial results on their TFT operations earnings dropped 68 percent, gross margins fell from 34 percent to 17 percent, and net margins declined from 28 percent to 12 percent with further declines expected in Q4'04.
With capacity growing at double-digit levels from Q4'04 to Q2'05 and costs falling from improved panelization and lower cost electronics architectures, pricing pressure will continue resulting in a strong market outlook. As panel prices fall and PDP TV prices become even more attractive, demand growth is expected to outstrip supply growth in the second half of 2005, resulting in much tighter supply conditions.
For more information, visit www.displaysearch.com.
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Our next update, rolling out from August 19, 2018, has new functionality for data entry in simPRO Enterprise, as well as some general improvements we’ve made based on feedback received.
Our next update, rolling out from August 5, 2018, will see noteworthy changes made with the aim of improving overall functionality for you, your team, and your business.
Our next update, rolling out from July 22, 2018, is the first of future releases for the Form Builder feature in simPRO Enterprise.
We’re back at it! For the next installment of our import and export overhaul, rolling out from July 8, 2018, we’re turning our critical eye on your assets.
In our next update for simPRO Enterprise rolling out from June 29 2018, you can boost customer engagement and generate more revenue on the go with the new simPRO Mobile app containing the Quote and Sales module. Initially for Android only, this update will be followed closely with a release for iOS.
In our next update, rolling out from June 24, 2018, we’ve continued to improve your ability to update your own data with our improved supplier import and export.
Our next update to simPRO Service and Enterprise, rolling out from June 10, 2018, includes improvements to site imports and exports, as well as some new features that make paying commissions easier and faster.
Our next update, rolling out from May 27, 2018, focuses on simplifying the import and export process, making updating records easier and faster!
Our next update to simPRO, rolling out from May 13, 2018, offers improved import capability with extended options for employees and contractors making it simple to use and lightning fast!
Our next update to simPRO, rolling out on April 29, 2018, continues to improve our solutions based on your feedback, and launches the first new feature to be supported by the upcoming simPRO Quote/Sales Module as part of our new simPRO Mobile Suite!


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India’s NASSCOM set to visit Kenya, Uganda
A delegation from India’s NASSCOM is set to visit Kenya and Uganda later this month, to seek improved ICT business partnerships.
The ICT business delegation will make its fourth visit to Kenya from 17 – 18th September. The key objective of the delegation is to provide the Indian companies an exposure to the Kenya ICT environment and provide networking opportunities with the local companies and agencies and explore business opportunities.
NASSCOM says India has a mature ecosystem, from which Kenya can learn and be a part of. India has a vibrant private ICT sector which primarily drives the IT sector, well supported by the Government.
In turn, Kenya has solid Government support for ICT development and adoption. NASSCOM says these factors present numerous business opportunities to both sides.


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From Friday, Ulster Bank will temporarily close ten of its cashless advice centers.
In addition, the opening on Saturday in all branches and in the service of Mobile Bank on Wheels is to be temporarily suspended.
The move is being made in response to the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic and is the result of a significantly lower visitor frequency in the stores.
“The number of customers visiting branches has decreased due to social distance and instructions from our health authorities to stay at home, but we recognize the criticality of the branch for certain customers,” said Ciarán Coyle, Managing Director Personal Banking at Ulster Bank.
“Our ATM network will continue to support customers who need access to cash.”
The bank also warned that ad hoc or temporary changes to branch opening times can be expected in the coming weeks as employees are available daily and it must be ensured that all employees are given breaks.
It therefore urges customers to check whether a branch is open before visiting.
In branch offices, older people and vulnerable customers and caregivers are given priority access until 11 a.m. daily, it said.
The bank said the changes would support customers and protect customers and colleagues.
Two new telephone lines have also been set up, one for older and vulnerable customers and their advisors, and a second for health and rescue workers.
The bank has also launched a new online form for customers seeking to suspend mortgage payments to speed up the process.
According to Ulster Bank, customers should only come to branches if they cannot carry out any activities online or via their app.
“We know there are delays in some of our phone lines. We are doing everything we can to help customers. We are currently asking customers to keep our phone lines free for those in need who need help,” said Mr. Sagte Coyle.
Social distancing measures are all available in branches.
The locations of the advice centers will temporarily close on Friday, March 27:
3 Grafton Street
4 Liffey Valley
7 breastfeeding organ
8 swords pavilion
10 Winthrop Street
Temporarily closed on Saturday with immediate effect (in addition to the above advice centers, except for Ballsbridge, which is not open on Saturday)
1. Athlone (Westmeath)
2. Blanchardstown (Dublin)
4. Castlebar (Mayo)
6. Door opener (Limerick)
7. O’Connell Street (Dublin)
8. Dundalk (Louth)
9. Dundrum (Dublin)
10. Dun Laoghaire (Dublin)
11. Ennis (Clare)
13. Letterkenny (Donegal)
15. Mullingar (Westmeath)
16. Navan (Meath)
18. Tralee (Kerry)


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In June 2022, hatchback sales continued to dominate, while the top 10 selling PVs were a mix of hatchbacks and SUVs. The best-selling cars list was dominated by Maruti Suzuki, while Tata Motors was able to edge over Hyundai to sell more Nexons than Hyundai sold Cretas. However, in terms of hatchback sales, Hyundai managed to outsell Tata Motors.
Today, we look at the top 10 best-selling Utility Vehicles (UVs) in June 2022 that consist of SUVs and MUVs. The list primarily consists of Tata Motors, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, and Mahindra, who offer a mix of SUVs and MUVs.
The leading UV manufacturer in June 2022 is Tata Motors with the Nexon SUV, which sold 14,295 units last month. The Nexon posted a growth of 78 per cent over June 2021, when the carmaker sold 8,033 units.
Hot on Tata Motors’ tail is Hyundai with the Creta, which has been the best-selling SUV for the carmaker for a while. However, the Tata Nexon’s offering in petrol diesel, EV, and a long-range EV has managed to dethrone the Creta. Hyundai sold 13,790 units of the Creta last month, compared to 9,941 units in June 2021.
Maruti Suzuki takes third with the Ertiga MUV, which is a popular alternative to the Toyota Innova Crysta in terms of space and affordability. The updated Ertiga features reclinable third-row seats and a host of other updates that are helping Maruti sell good numbers of the Ertiga. In June 2022, Maruti Suzuki sold 10,423 units, which is more than some of its hatchbacks such as the Celerio and the Ignis.
The fourth and fifth best-selling UVs are again a battle between Tata Motors and Hyundai — Punch vs Venue. Tata sold 10,414 units of the Punch in June 2022, while Hyundai’s hot on Tata’s tail with 10,321 units. The competition between the two vehicles may see a change next month as Hyundai recently launched the updated Venue in India.
The sixth and seventh place is taken up by Kia, with the Seltos and the new Carens. Kia sold 8,388 units of the Seltos in India last month while selling 7,895 units of the Carens. The Seltos also registered a negative 2 per cent YoY growth, having sold more (8,549 units) last June.
The Mahindra Bolero settles for eighth, having sold 7,884 units and registering a YoY growth of 37 per cent, while the Kia Sonet takes the ninth spot, with 7,455 units and 25 per cent YoY growth. Completing the list of top 10 best-selling UVs in June 2022 is the Kia Sonet and Innova Crysta, with 7,455 and 6,795 units respectively, while the letter registered a YoY growth of 129 per cent, which is the most recorded growth amongst UVs in June 2022.
|Make and Model||Type||June 2022||June 2021||Growth (YoY)|
|Maruti Suzuki Ertiga||MUV||10,423||9,920||5%|
|Kia Seltos||SUV||8,388||8,549||– 2%|
|Toyota Innova Crysta||MUV||6,795||2,973||129%|


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Dressbarn's parent company considers selling the chain
Ascena Retail Group, the parent company of Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant, is considering a sale of women's clothing chain Dressbarn, per Bloomberg.
Why it matters: When I was a kid, my mom and everyone else's mom shopped at Dressbarn. Apparently that's no longer true.
- Context: Ascena said earlier this month that its value unit, which includes both Dressbarn and Maurices, was operating at an "unacceptable level of profitability." Last week it agreed to sell Maurices to a private equity firm for $300 million.
The bottom line: "Any potential move comes as retailers face challenges that include a costly battle to ward off Amazon as it pushes deeper into apparel. Value retailers like Dressbarn are also up against fast-fashion rivals like H&M and Zara, which have won over a growing portion of younger shoppers," according to Bloomberg.


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In August, Melissa McCarthy introduced Seven7, a clothing line aimed at providing fashionable looks for plus-sized women. She decided to introduce the line after many designers refused to make her a dress for the 2012 Oscars. McCarthy saw a real gap in the clothing market and seized on the opportunity to fill it.
Though Seven7 is marketed as a plus-sized line, the Home Shopping Network sells the brand in sizes 4 to 28. “I’m doing all sizes. It’s a strange thing to stop at a certain size. Women don’t, so why should clothes?” McCarthy said in 2014. Retailers Nordstrom and Macy’s, however, sell only the line’s plus sizes.
And it turns out that McCarthy was right, shoppers eagerly responded to her clothing line and the actresses proved to a blind industry that women, in fact, come in many sizes. Forbes reports that McCarthy’s brand, “has been a force pulling the $19.9 billion market for plus-size clothing in the U.S. into the mainstream.”
In response to McCarthy’s success, more designers and retailers will no offer plus-sized clothing. Next year, Rachel Roy will add a “curvy” line to her mid-priced Macy’s line and Rebel Wilson will launch a line targeted at teens. Online retailer Universal Standard will also expand their plus size offerings. “Some retailers are going to make a big deal of plus size in 2016,” a retail analyst told Forbes. Why plus-sized buyers, which constitute 65% of “female buyers” is a trend is an entirely different story.
But McCarthy isn’t quite finished with her fashion mission. Forbes reports:
“Retailers hide the clothes, sizes 14 and up, in the basements of their stores, far away from the rest of womenswear. The tops, pants, and dresses are big and boxy, typically concealing a woman’s shape. The message isn’t only about hiding your curves. It also says, as the actress Melissa McCarthy told fashion site Refinery29, ‘You’re not really worthy.’
In response, McCarthy is lobbying Nordstrom and Macy’s to carry Seven7’s full range of sizes and display them together.
Image via Getty.


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Recent content from Joe Carlson
Medtronic computers had been out for a full week, disrupting operations.
Costs would spike for 66,000 if Children's and Blue Cross can't agree.
Minnesota is a big player in the growing market for tools that are less invasive.
No patient harm reported from products made by Minn.'s Vascular Solutions.
A global computer outage has hurt Medtronic's ability to fulfill orders.
Blue Cross customers will not be covered there if no deal is reached by July 5.
Eden Prairie company, new partner to have a catalog of 7,000 products based in Twin Cities.
Incident happened hours after dueling protests over Islam.
In a push to increase use of its Tyrx envelope, company vows to share replacement cost should an infection set in.
Dr. Uzma Samadani is nearing a way to assess functions in real time.
India's government has ordered a big price cut; device firms are threatening to leave.
A Minneapolis firm's device is designed to help people sidelined with nerve damage regain the ability to walk
The medical device giant's guidance for year ahead is viewed by some as conservative.
The deaths occurred after patients tried to perform routine maintenance on their HeartMate II blood pump, made by the former St. Jude Medical. A "recall" notice urges that the upgrades be done in a clinic or hospital.
Hospital and medical device experts say well-meaning agencies did not coordinate attempts to provide — or always provide the most useful — information.
Experts will look to make recommendations to protect medical devices.
Patients with complex cardiac cases may benefit most from Acist Medical Systems device.
The trial between Boston Scientific and Medtronic minimally-invasive valves hints at a more competitive market.
Minnesota's IT experts had a tense and busy weekend.
Self-described whistleblower Muddy Waters accuses firm of trying to silence its critics.
Medtronic implant detects atrial fibrillation in high-risk patients.
The companies presented the results on heart devices at a Chicago conference.
Christopher M. Barry took design files to his new company when he left Lutonix.
Abbott's stimulation system can be controlled with an iPod, and is seen as the first big advancement in the U.S. in 20 years
After investing in the Maple Grove heart valve company in 2012, LivaNova is buying the company.
PraeVeni is working to implement what it calls a new test to accurately rule out the 10 most common heart problems for a fraction of the typical $4,000-plus cost of screening.
Recent FDA warning over seven patients implanted after recall could be a PR "black eye" for Abbott.
The company was faulted for failing to investigate defibrillator battery problems and cybersecurity shortcomings.
Mpls. hosted meeting to show off a brave new biotech world.
Valve was approved for use less than a year ago.
Medtronic's 670G device reads the blood-glucose level, makes a high-low prediction, then adjusts insulin dose.
Federal ruling might influence two separate whistleblower suits.
Minnesotan Nadim Yared was supposed to have one of his biggest jobs well underway just a few days into his new role as incoming chairman of the national medical-technology trade group AdvaMed.
Cardiovascular Systems Inc. was accused of hiding illegal sales tactics, but evidence was lacking.
The deal comes after the device maker halted sales of its Lotus heart valve.
But not all are sold on letting consumers purchase low-cost devices without a prescription.
The 10-year agreement is aimed at creating jointly held intellectual property.
Medtronic and St. Jude are rolling out upbeat trial results for key products.
Gillette Children's has designed a unit that helps kids recovering from surgery to move around on their own terms.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development support is a $345,000 grant from its Job Creation Fund.
New programming makes the latest version of the device more accurate.
The plea is expected to allow Bryan Szweda to avoid jail time.
The company was already Minnesota's top biotech player. New management is thinking big.
The Lotus valve replacement system is for sale in Europe and under clinical testing in the U.S.
The medical device maker reaffirmed its full-year guidance, citing product launches in the current quarter.
The acquisition follows last year's $25 million financing round.
The FDA requires "postmarket" surveillance for medical devices. But researchers and regulators say the system is deeply flawed, exposing patients and doctors to greater risks.
Zift Medical, a startup in Fridley, believes its work can improve the process for having a brow lift
St. Jude Medical acquired the device in a 2015 deal and predicted it would be a key growth driver within five years.
Money in 2016 trailed off amid concern over fate of the Affordable Care Act.
Paul B. Pedersen was a boy of about 5, sitting next to the tar road near the family farmhouse in Ringsted, Iowa, when he had…
Adventium Labs is working on tools to help.
Medical device maker beat the forecasts, showed broad sales growth.
Regulatory approval to sell the device should boost sales and Abbott Laboratories' bottom line.
The open enrollment period to buy a 2017 health plan has been extended for one week.
David Clarke Jr. has been a popular pro-Trump commentator on Twitter and other media.
Life as a senior took many things from Irv English — teeth, independence, a sense of home — but it never took away his positive…
The device is much smaller than traditional pacemakers and can be implanted inside the heart without open-chest surgery.
FDA approval for some of its devices is on the way, company officials believe.
FDA issues warning, but patch reportedly ready.
The market will be watching closely to see if the two companies — which combined last week — can drive investment in the next technological breakthrough while managing high debt, working several other pending deals and melding differences in their corporate cultures.
Focus turns on integration teams from both companies that continue to work on the transition.
$25 billion deal is expected to become profitable for Abbott in the first year.
If you want to prevent computer hackers from attacking medical devices, it's not enough to just design the best device you can before shipping it out the door.
The closing follows months of regulatory review that required the companies to divest several proprietary devices.
Medtronic was dealt a legal setback Wednesday when a federal appeals court reinstated litigation from investment funds claiming that the medical device company misled investors…
Roseville's EnteroMedics thinks a new study will help its case with insurers.
New product can treat atrial fibrillation more quickly.
Maker of SleepSack will still use brand to market.
A "simple" plastic cap made in Maple Grove could reduce the infection rate for patients.
Outside contractor hired to replace Columbia Heights jobs.
The picture presented at a University of Minnesota event was of two scientific communities running in tandem: One is run by and for patients, focused on their immediate needs, while the other is comprised of big companies and research groups.
The pact with University Hospitals Cleveland medical Center is Medtronic's first integrated health solutions agreement in the U.S.
The company said it believes sales woes will be temporary as new products drive a recovery.
Boston is paying $210 million cash for the company, and says it's evaluating strategic options for one of EndoChoice's key products.
More from Star Tribune


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|By Marketwired .||
|December 31, 2012 11:45 AM EST||
TORONTO -- (Marketwire) -- 12/31/12 -- As Canadians and the world prepare to say good bye to 2012 and ring in 2013, the travel experts at Cheapflights.ca, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, are releasing their annual Top 6 Travel Trend Predictions for 2013. While uncertainty was the buzzword entering 2012, this upcoming year is about creativity and thinking outside the box when it comes to travel. And given that 2012 was an eventful year, and a difficult one at times, the team decided you deserve a bonus and, instead of the regular five travel trends, released six predictions about how Canadians plan to travel in the new year.
Below is a brief glimpse into each of Cheapflights.ca's Top 6 Travel Trend Predictions for 2013:
1. The 'Parental Piggyback' holiday -- join forces and save - With cash tight and no end in sight, most people are still going to be watching their pennies. Our experts are predicting that 2013 will see the 'bank of mom and dad' move into the vacation market in a big way, with the rise of the 'parental piggy back holiday' -- extended family groups getting away together to save cash. "Be very afraid" some will say -- and, ok, this may not exactly be everyone's idea of a 'getaway' but for overworked new parents, and grandparents complaining that they never see their grandchildren, this could be the only means to get an affordable break.
2. "Friend, Share, Like!" the Facebook "place-book" holiday inspiration trend; your virtual holiday album for 2013 - Increasingly, vacation planning starts with browsing through seductive images of blue skies, palm trees and white sandy beaches, followed by pictures of the local hotels and their amenities, right down to the dishes at the breakfast buffet. You can switch to Twitter to get a running commentary (and deals) on local sightseeing options and then take a look at dinner options on Pinterest. Before you book, check out friends' recommendations and advice or see how fellow travellers got on checking-in to the resort you are eyeing. 300 million images are posted to Facebook every day; and holiday photos are a major generator of 'likes' -- and envy. Little wonder that surfing social networks can be a handy way to get holiday inspiration, get a genuine opinion on that hotel -- and perhaps find that out-of-the-way boutique hideaway in the sun that (almost) no-one else knows about. In many ways it's like having your own personalized guide; the ultimate 'try before you buy'. For these reasons the travel gurus at Cheapflights think "place-book" holidays will be all the rage in 2013.
3. And on the flipside...Digital Detox - Ok, so you may have found your holiday on Facebook and you may be a social network junkie, but there's only so much liking, friending, trending, tweeting, sharing and pinning anyone can handle before they're deluged. In 2013, digital detox is increasingly on the travel to-do list. As technology and social media becomes increasingly pervasive, so too does our need to make a conscious decision to turn them off from time to time. With Wi-Fi access on planes and mobile data networks growing and covering more and more of the world, tuning out and taking a break from the steady stream of information is harder to do but more important than ever. Many resorts and cruise ships are turning off their wireless signals and satellite dishes and attracting waves of visitors whose thumbs twitch for a day to two but who, in the end, recharge themselves like never before.
4. The bag-a-bargain abroad ('BABA') holiday. Combine cheap holidays with bargains from abroad to save - With cash-strapped travellers looking for maximum bang for their buck in everything they do, we predict an increasing focus on BABA holidays -- for the uninitiated, that's "bag a bargain abroad". With the internet offering greater transparency on pricing of goods and services in different markets on an almost daily basis -- and cash-strapped consumers looking to tighten their belts -- international shopping holidays can offer significant savings.
5. Sports and events tourism - The 2012 Olympics in London opened a lot of eyes to 'event' tourism -- the once in a lifetime chance to experience a huge sporting spectacle, take in your favourite band in a unique location or watch your team playing a critical road game. And, if anyone has friends on Facebook who visited the London 2012 Games knows, photos from big events are well 'liked'. Sport is a major driver of travel; just witness the 4,500% increase in searches for tickets to Rio on Cheapflights when the host city of the next Olympics was mentioned during the London 2012 closing ceremony. We may not have the same smorgasbord of activity in one place this year, but the bad news for sports widows and widowers is that there's no shortage of international events worth travelling for. We predict that sports, concerts, cultural events and festivals will again be a major driver of travel destinations in 2013.
6. "Economy be damned, I am going on a proper trip" splurge surge - So we've all been watching the pennies but there's only so many staycations we can take. After four years, it seems a lot of us have had enough of not having enough. We've identified four groups who may be opting for a bit more of a 'holiday splurge' than the rest of us this year.
- The 'let's not wait until it's too late-ers'
- The 'pent up demand demanders'
- The 'lump sum-ers'
- The 'let's go do before they're two' crowd
To read in complete detail Cheapflights.ca's noteworthy trends that we predict will define next year's travel landscape visit www.cheapflights.ca/travel/top-6-travel-trends-for-2013.
About momondo group
momondo group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world. The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 13 million visitors a month -- plus 6 million travel newsletter subscribers -- via its Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.ca) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands.
Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, while Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries in 2006.
The Group has offices in London, Copenhagen, Boston and Toronto, with a consumer base across 16 core international markets but users all over the world.
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2191229
Rapid innovation, changing business landscapes, and new IT demands force businesses to make changes quickly. In the eyes of many, containers are at the brink of becoming a pervasive technology in enterprise IT to accelerate application delivery. In this presentation, attendees learned about the: The transformation of IT to a DevOps, microservices, and container-based architecture What are containers and how DevOps practices can operate in a container-based environment A demonstration of how ...
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Cloud Expo, Inc. has announced today that Andi Mann returns to 'DevOps at Cloud Expo 2017' as Conference Chair The @DevOpsSummit at Cloud Expo will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. "DevOps is set to be one of the most profound disruptions to hit IT in decades," said Andi Mann. "It is a natural extension of cloud computing, and I have seen both firsthand and in independent research the fantastic results DevOps delivers. So I am excited to help the great t...
Dec. 6, 2016 11:28 AM EST
"At ROHA we develop an app called Catcha. It was developed after we spent a year meeting with, talking to, interacting with senior citizens watching them use their smartphones and talking to them about how they use their smartphones so we could get to know their smartphone behavior," explained Dave Woods, Chief Innovation Officer at ROHA, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 19th Cloud Expo, held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 6, 2016 11:15 AM EST Reads: 355
DevOps is being widely accepted (if not fully adopted) as essential in enterprise IT. But as Enterprise DevOps gains maturity, expands scope, and increases velocity, the need for data-driven decisions across teams becomes more acute. DevOps teams in any modern business must wrangle the ‘digital exhaust’ from the delivery toolchain, "pervasive" and "cognitive" computing, APIs and services, mobile devices and applications, the Internet of Things, and now even blockchain. In this power panel at @...
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SYS-CON Events has announced today that Roger Strukhoff has been named conference chair of Cloud Expo and @ThingsExpo 2017 New York. The 20th Cloud Expo and 7th @ThingsExpo will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. "The Internet of Things brings trillions of dollars of opportunity to developers and enterprise IT, no matter how you measure it," stated Roger Strukhoff. "More importantly, it leverages the power of devices and the Internet to enable us all to im...
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Effectively SMBs and government programs must address compounded regulatory compliance requirements. The most recent are Controlled Unclassified Information and the EU's GDPR have Board Level implications. Managing sensitive data protection will likely result in acquisition criteria, demonstration requests and new requirements. Developers, as part of the pre-planning process and the associated supply chain, could benefit from updating their code libraries and design by incorporating changes. In...
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"Venafi has a platform that allows you to manage, centralize and automate the complete life cycle of keys and certificates within the organization," explained Gina Osmond, Sr. Field Marketing Manager at Venafi, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at DevOps at 19th Cloud Expo, held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 6, 2016 10:30 AM EST Reads: 954
"ReadyTalk is an audio and web video conferencing provider. We've really come to embrace WebRTC as the platform for our future of technology," explained Dan Cunningham, CTO of ReadyTalk, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at WebRTC Summit at 19th Cloud Expo, held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 6, 2016 10:15 AM EST Reads: 532
Financial Technology has become a topic of intense interest throughout the cloud developer and enterprise IT communities. Accordingly, attendees at the upcoming 20th Cloud Expo at the Javits Center in New York, June 6-8, 2017, will find fresh new content in a new track called FinTech.
Dec. 6, 2016 09:15 AM EST Reads: 2,141
Keeping pace with advancements in software delivery processes and tooling is taxing even for the most proficient organizations. Point tools, platforms, open source and the increasing adoption of private and public cloud services requires strong engineering rigor – all in the face of developer demands to use the tools of choice. As Agile has settled in as a mainstream practice, now DevOps has emerged as the next wave to improve software delivery speed and output. To make DevOps work, organization...
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"Qosmos has launched L7Viewer, a network traffic analysis tool, so it analyzes all the traffic between the virtual machine and the data center and the virtual machine and the external world," stated Sebastien Synold, Product Line Manager at Qosmos, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 19th Cloud Expo, held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 6, 2016 09:00 AM EST Reads: 707
Whether your IoT service is connecting cars, homes, appliances, wearable, cameras or other devices, one question hangs in the balance – how do you actually make money from this service? The ability to turn your IoT service into profit requires the ability to create a monetization strategy that is flexible, scalable and working for you in real-time. It must be a transparent, smoothly implemented strategy that all stakeholders – from customers to the board – will be able to understand and comprehe...
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In his keynote at 18th Cloud Expo, Andrew Keys, Co-Founder of ConsenSys Enterprise, provided an overview of the evolution of the Internet and the Database and the future of their combination – the Blockchain. Andrew Keys is Co-Founder of ConsenSys Enterprise. He comes to ConsenSys Enterprise with capital markets, technology and entrepreneurial experience. Previously, he worked for UBS investment bank in equities analysis. Later, he was responsible for the creation and distribution of life sett...
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The WebRTC Summit New York, to be held June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, announces that its Call for Papers is now open. Topics include all aspects of improving IT delivery by eliminating waste through automated business models leveraging cloud technologies. WebRTC Summit is co-located with 20th International Cloud Expo and @ThingsExpo. WebRTC is the future of browser-to-browser communications, and continues to make inroads into the traditional, difficult, plug-in web co...
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Successful digital transformation requires new organizational competencies and capabilities. Research tells us that the biggest impediment to successful transformation is human; consequently, the biggest enabler is a properly skilled and empowered workforce. In the digital age, new individual and collective competencies are required. In his session at 19th Cloud Expo, Bob Newhouse, CEO and founder of Agilitiv, drew together recent research and lessons learned from emerging and established compa...
Dec. 6, 2016 08:30 AM EST Reads: 882


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Blog: Istanbul Fashion Apparel Conference – Day One
Joe Ayling | 5 May 2011
It has been a busy day in Turkey's capital for the opening of the Istanbul Fashion Apparel Conference.
Any doubts about the importance of the country's apparel industry were dispelled by an appearance by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who opened today's proceedings.
Erdogan made a grand entrance to the auditorium surrounded by a mass security entourage and was quickly swamped by paparazzi.
With just 37 days until the Turkish elections, his speech went beyond the nuts and bolts of the textile industry – also addressing addressing education, debt and rising inflation.
It emerged that Turkey is setting a $500bn export target by 2013, with $60bn to come from clothing alone – up from $15bn a year currently.
The vast majority of Turkey's garment exports are to EU markets, where it enjoys preferential access, but a booming domestic retail market also carries potential for suppliers.
Following on from the PM was the co-CEO of Itlalian luxury brand Loro Piana. Pier Luigi Loro Piana said Turkish brands should focus on the value added by local manufacturing to grow, rather than entering any race to the bottom.
In between sessions we've had enough Turkish tea and baklava to sink a ship, more than taking the edge off the continued dull weather here in Istanbul.
International fashion brands and retailers are being urged to help build a more resilient cotton supply chain in China if they want to secure supplies of the raw material for the future. But can they ...
A special event on ‘The Fit Factor – World class wisdom on fashion sizing and fit’ will bring together speakers from Marks & Spencer, Tesco, C&A and Debenhams in the UK next week....
A tentative agreement on a new five-year contract has been agreed for some 20,000 dockworkers at 29 US West Coast ports, ending nine months of discussions. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and I...
- Why should brands care about China cotton?
- New Gap CEO set to tackle “aesthetic issue”
- Falling euro adds to Bangladesh production woes
- Low labour cost countries linked to highest risks
- Myanmar Code of Conduct a first step in compliance
- M&S Asia head quits as China stores to close
- Abercrombie & Fitch reports “dismal” FY
- Gap names new design head amid mixed Q4
- Pay rise mulled for Sri Lanka garment workers
- US labour concerns at Honduras apparel makers
- Myanmar's Garment Sector - Opportunities & Challenges in 2015
- Apparel Retail: Top 5 Emerging Markets Industry Guide
- Outdoor performance apparel: peaks, valleys, and green fields
- Management briefing: Outlook 2015: Apparel industry issues in the year ahead
- Global market review of swimwear - forecasts to 2019


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Will 2009 Be a Bad Year for Restaurants?
FlyerTalk member mrviognier cautions to Watch Out for 1st Quarter 09.
This is because the worldwide economy is currently in such bad shape that there is a real possibility that some restaurants might not be able to last through these difficult financial times. Some may even be forced to file for bankruptcy.
Other FlyerTalk members speculate that now many not be a good time to purchase restaurant gift cards for future use.
Are the predictions that dour? Will a strong fourth quarter save some, if not many, restaurants?


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Police: L.I. teen shoplifted, then pulled knife
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. -- Police have arrested a 16-year-old and arrested on charges of stealing from a Long Island store.
Nassau County police say security guards at a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream watched the teenager slip portable hard drives and CDs into his pockets before trying to walk out of the store on Friday night.
Police say he pulled out a knife and threatened to stab the guards when they tried to stop him in the store's vestibule.
Police say the 16-year-old later returned to the store and was arrested. They did not find the merchandise or the knife.
Calls to the teenager's home were not answered and his lawyer's name was not immediately available.
An employee was killed at the same Wal-Mart store in 2008 when post-Thanksgiving shoppers trampled him to death.
long island, valley stream, arrest, local news
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- Photos: 10 suspects caught in the act


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Posted Jun 26, 2014By
St. Kilian’s Cheese Shop has been around for more than a decade. Now, after renovations, the shop offers more square footage and the welcome addition of a produce section. Owner Jon Marsh wanted to expand as well as offer as much local food as possible. The shop also opened a stand at the Highland Square Farmers Market which has helped the owners get to know more people in the neighborhood.
Liza Minnelli is said to be resting comfortably in a California hospital after undergoing back surgery earlier this
Fill A Plate for Hunger, the signature fundraiser for We Don’t Waste, is a walkabout supper with small-plate
Moonbeam Harvest, a walkabout supper benefiting Clayton Early Learning, has been held outdoors every year since its
New CBS drama has distinct Hillary Clinton overtones with Téa Leoni starring as a former CIA analyst who is appoin
Models showcase designs at Madrid’s Fashion Week in Madrid, Spain.
LONDON (AP) — London Fashion Week swung into Day 3 Sunday, packed from morning to night with next season’s


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Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers in the United States delivered 259,353 vehicles in June 2015, a drop of 3 percent. It was GM's best June for retail deliveries since 2007 climbing 6.8 percent year over year. Year-to-date General Motors sales of 1,505,545, up 3.4 percent from 2014.
Motor Company total U.S. June sales of 225,647 vehicles sold was a 1.6 percent gain over last year. Year-to-date sales of 1,293,621 is a 1.9 percent increase over 2014.
Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported June 2015 sales of 209,912, an increase of 4.1 percent from June 2014. Toyota division posted June 2015 sales of 183,791, up 3.1 percent. Lexus reported June sales of 26,121, up 11.1 percent from June 2014. For the first half of the year, TMS reported sales of 1,231,440, up 5.6 percent versus the same period in 2014.
FCA US (Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat, Alfa Romeo
) reported U.S. sales of 185,035, an 8 percent increase compared with sales in June 2014 for the group’s best June sales since 2006. Year-to-date sales of 1,082,143 is a 6 percent gain over 2014.
reported June 2015 Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 134,397, an increase of 4.2 percent. Year-to-date sales of 739,436 is a 1.8 percent gain over last year. June Honda brand sales reached 118,870 for a gain of 0.9 percent. Acura
division June sales of 15,527 is a 33 percent jump.
Group announced total U.S. sales for June 2015 of 124,228, an increase of 13.3 percent for a June record. Nissan Division finished June with 114,243 sales, up 13 percent and also a June record. Infiniti
June sales of 9,985 is up 16.5 percent over last year. Year-to-date Nissan Group sales of 736,483 is a 4.5 percent gain over 2014.
Motor America reported its best June sales ever of 67,502, up less than one percent, surpassing the record-setting month of June 2014. Year-to-date sales of 371,150 represents a 1.8 percent increase and marks Hyundai’s best opening six months ever.
Motors America had its best-ever June sales of 54,137 vehicles, up 6.9 percent. Year-to-date Kia sales are 310,952, up 4.6 percent, the best first half in company history.
of America reported record sales for June 2015 totaling 44,335 vehicles, a 7.2 percent gain over June 2014. Year-to-date sales of 272,418 vehicles is a 14.5 percent gain over the same period in 2014.
of America reported sales of 30,436, up 5.6 percent from last June while year-to-date sales of 174,442 is a decline of 2.6 percent from 2014. Separately, Audi
of America reported its best-ever June sales of 18,262 vehicles, an 8.3 percent gain over last June.Year-to-date Audi sales of 93,615 is up 11 percent over 2014.
Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported June sales of 38,350 vehicles, an increase of 7.8 percent versus the same month a year ago. Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 6.5 percent in June for a total of 32,176 compared to 30,201 vehicles sold in June, 2014. For June, MINI
USA reports 6,174 automobiles sold, an increase of 14.8 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date BMW Group sales of 198,883 is a 9.6 percent gain over 2014.
USA reported record June sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand at 28,044, climbing 5.8 percent from the same month last year. Sprinter delivered 2,442, a 10.9 percent increase in June with 774 at smart for a monthly total of 31,260 for MBUSA. On a year-to-date basis, Mercedes-Benz retails totaled 164,970, up 8.8 percent. Adding 13,534 for Sprinter and 3,624 for smart, MBUSA achieved a record grand total of 182,128 for the first six months of 2015.
North American Operations reported June U.S. sales of 27,223 vehicles, representing an increase of 3.9 percent versus last year. Through June, Mazda has sold 158,996 vehicles, up 1.6 percent year-to-date.
Motors North America sold 7,963, an increase of 32.3 percent from June 2014. Sales for the first half of the year are 49,544, up 24.9 percent over 2014.
Cars sold 5,984 in the U.S. in June, flat from a year ago while year-to-date sales of 29,367 is a 0.1 percent gain over last year.
Jaguar Land Rover
North America today reported June 2015 U.S. sales for both brands of 5,860, an 11 percent increase from June 2014. Land Rover sales reached 4,643, up 15 percent and Jaguar sales were 1,217, down 4 percent. Year-to-date in 2015, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales are up 16 percent from 2014.
Cars North America June 2015 sales of 4,223 vehicles is up 2.9 percent from a year ago for its strongest June sales month in PCNA history. Year-to-date sales of 25,138 is 9.7 percent higher than 2014.
Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.


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The head of Expedia Inc.
Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi also said he was considering acquisitions to bolster the TripAdvisor search and directory business, and targeting aggressive expansion of its core brands in South America.
Expedia, the world's largest online travel agent by revenue, is spinning off TripAdvisor amid a buoyant internet travel market that has seen the unit valued at as much as $4 billion.
Khosrowshahi said at an investor conference that the IPO filing had been scheduled for the spring but would now be made "in a matter of weeks".
TripAdvisor has come under pressure from a rival offering from Google Inc. (GOOG), but said it had "overcome" the impact of Google Places, which he did not expect to expand from search and advice into handling transactions.


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Back in March 2020 when the pandemic was still in its first wave, consumers have bought considerably more amounts of edible groceries, especially packaged food, alcohol, and beverages, presumably to keep up the comfort levels at home while decreasing the frequency of going out to the store. In terms of food and beverages, purchases of vegetarian and vegan items rose the most: sales of oat milk grew by 347 percent, while meat alternative sales grew by just over 200 percent. Many consumers are increasing purchases of home goods as well, including the phenomenon of panic buying massive amounts of household necessity products, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizers. Paper products were the most frequently bought non-edible grocery product due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the world rolls into the winter period with the pandemic still ongoing, there has been a growth of online activity for industries such as grocery retail and sports equipment. Globally, consumer interest in retail e-commerce websites surged again, reaching an all-year high in June 2020. Back in the earky months of the pandemic, grocery delivery app usage had risen, with apps such as Instacart, Walmart Grocery, and Shipt seeing well over one hundred percent growth in application downloads.
E-commerce retailers are divided on what effect COVID-19 will have on their businesses, while traditional format retailers expect some downside revenue implications due to the outbreak. For consumers worried about shortages, the majority of respondents in every country surveyed stated that they expected any food and supply shortages at local grocery stores during the pandemic outbreak to be caused by people stockpiling goods, as opposed to supply chain disruption.
For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.


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Two sisters born in Uganda and raised in the United States have launched Mutima Coffee, an online retail company offering high-quality coffees grown in the East African country.
The Mount Elgon region of Eastern Uganda near the Kenyan border is the specific area of coffee focus for Sheila and Sharon Kasasa, who seek to highlight the efforts small-scale farmers producing specialty Arabica coffees.
As third-generation female entrepreneurs now based in the Washington D.C. area, the Kasasa sisters are particularly motivated to shine a light on the work of women at the farm level.
“Far too often we find income disparities between female and male farmers,” Sheila Kasasa, who is co-CEO with Sharon, told Daily Coffee News. “As women, our experiences are heavily influenced by other women, like our mother and grandmother. We like to celebrate womanhood as a whole, and thus take time to highlight the female farmers within communities we work with, in addition to highlighting the entire community.”
Pre-orders for Mutima’s roasted coffee opened on International Women’s Day earlier this month. In its first week, the company sold more than 200 bags of a single-origin coffee they call Spiced Chai for its pronounced natural notes of ginger, cocoa and molasses.
The coffee business is just one of the channels through which the Kasasa sisters have been working to empower more underserved communities throughout each of their personal and professional lives.
“While Mutima Coffee does not actively seek to address the racial disparity in ownership positions of businesses within the specialty coffee industry, as individuals we are passionate about breaking down barriers,” Sharon Kasasa told DCN. “Our brand is a reflection of our individual work.”
Born 11 months apart in 1991, the sisters were little when their parents moved from Uganda to Maryland in 1998. Sharon Kasasa later fell in love with specialty coffee while studying neuroscience at Bowdoin College, as Sheila Kasasa studied political science at American University.
Immediately after college, Sheila launched a cultural exchange program that brought talent to Uganda. In 2017 she founded FutureFIRST, a Washington D.C.-based organization working to improve the socioeconomic standings of communities of color by providing youth training and resources that could lead to entrepreneurship and STEM careers.
While the sisters conceived the Mutima Coffee concept together, the business began to take shape when they met Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, the planning and economic development of the Buganda Kingdom, the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda. Waggwa Nsibirwa also happens to be on the board of directors of the Uganda Coffee Federation and is CEO of the Africa Coffee Academy.
The meeting with the Kasasas was regarding FutureFIRST’s involvement in a youth training initiative Nsibirwa was managing, although the conversation also turned to coffee.
“As a true education buff, I was immediately captivated by the idea of launching a coffee company that aligns with education and social impact,” Sheila said, noting that Nsibirwa’s coffee connections in Uganda are now being leveraged for the coffee venture.
Currently Mutima Coffee is partnering with a like-minded roasting company based in D.C. for production. More single-origin coffees and a ready-to-drink cold brew product are in development, according to the sisters, who hope to bring roasting in-house by the end of this year. Within three years, they hope to expand to source coffees directly from farmers in other African countries.
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.


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Kevin Durant $63 million $28 million $35 million NBA 8.
Our players and fans are the lifeblood of The Alliance, and https://www.baseballapparelsshop.com/Tampa-Bay-7-Jersey will treat them as such.
By Barry Janoff February 22: With Super Bowl XLIX and the 2014 NFL campaign barely in the rear view mirror, the league has already started to tackle the 2015 season with the Scouting Combine , the NFL Draft soon to follow and incoming rookies signing deals and eyeing their future on and off the field.
• The Fourth Of July, 2020 will be a day of festivity, food and fireworks, but it https://www.baseballapparelsshop.com/Los-Angeles-61-89-Jersey be noticeably more subdued than in previous years.
The new spot also leads people to other platforms, including separate Chris Paul and Cliff Paul Twitter destinations and a Cliff Paul Instagram site.
Kawhi Leonard 6.
Simone Biles 6.
The $500 million purchase is Lululemon’s first acquisition and underscores its goal of being more than an apparel brand: • : Under Armour has informed UCLA that it is attempting to terminate its record $280-million apparel deal with the school.
I host city.
MacLean publicly apologized Sunday for Cherry’s offensive comments from the night prior.
2 • Washington Wizards vs.Brooklyn Nets HP Field House, Orlando 2 PM • Portland Trail Blazers vs.
• : Lululemon is buying Mirror, the buzzy home fitness startup that sells a $1 wall-mounted product for streaming workout classes.
Denver Nuggets HP Field House, Orlando ESPN 1 PM • Utah Jazz vs.
down from last’s year’s $6 billion spend, down even farther from the record $7 billion spend in 2017, and the lowest such total since 2014, according to the National Retail Federation, Washington, DC.
are projected https://www.baseballapparelsshop.com/San-Diego-88-Jersey spend more than $6 billion on food for the Fourth of July this year.
Give your best, man, and the camera and the film will see that and the coaches will see that.
To find all players born within a certain month and year, for example all players born in December of 1985, choose the month and year with the drop down boxes and then choose the ‘Month and Year Search’ option.
31, and again televised live on ESPN.
Serena Williams 3.


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Ever since China allowed the first internet connection to be established 16 years ago, global attention has been focused on how the web is changing the country.
To those in the west who saw the internet as an inherently open and free medium, it would only be a matter of time before censorship and authoritarian control succumbed to the inevitable.
At the forefront was Google, the world's richest media and internet company. The company thought that its local search service would be one of the main forces breaking down barriers to the free flow of information.
Google was wrong...they tried to impose their vision of the web onto China and lost sight of cultural preferences and social structures. Therefore, Google has struggled in China.
If Google does decide to actually leave China, it will accelerate the online divergence between China and the rest of the world already taking place.
With 384 million internet users, the country already accounts for more than one-fifth of the 1.73 billion global internet population.
For large American multinational companies like Google, that means adapt or lose a substantiative market.
Other American internet companies have failed miserably in China, notably Yahoo and Ebay, so Google is not alone in its struggles.
If Google leaves China it will be because they fumbled the ball and did not adapt to the Chinese market and its competitors like Baidu and Tencent Holdings.
Google ARROGANTLY took years to find out even some basic facts about Baidu its Chinese rival, which has nearly two-thirds of the domestic market in online search.
For example, Baidu offers a search box formatted in a way much better suited to Chinese characters than Google's...yes, Google, Chinese people search in their own language.
In addition, Google was slow to tackle one of Baidu's main strengths in attracting user traffic its free music download...Google only began offering a similar service last year.
US companies have simply taken far too long a time to realize that Chinese people use the internet differently than their counterparts in other markets.
Recent research by the McKinsey consultancy suggests Chinese users spend most of their time online on entertainment, much of it playing online games, while Europeans and Americans are more focused on work-related uses.
Behind this difference is the fact that Chinese internet users are younger, poorer and less educated than their counterparts in the west a result of the fact that the country is moving online at the same rapid pace as it is expanding its economy.
According to China Internet Network Information Center, 61.5 per cent of users are below the age of 29, and only 12.1 per cent have a university degree. Additionally, 42.5 per cent have a monthly income of $146 or less.
But there are also cultural differences which Google took a long time to figure out.
Chinese internet users do not like to type...perhaps due to the fact that Mandarin has many thousands of characters.
They navigate almost entirely by using the mouse...most Chinese portals have reacted by filling their pages with hundreds of colorful links competing for attention.....
This may look cluttered and disorderly to an American, but it makes life easier for Chinese users.
Chinese web users are also more active participants...for instance, the amounts of comments posted per user in China is double that of other countries.
It is how consumers communicate with each other China, as they discuss places to buy food or clothing, etc.
According to McKinsey, consumers are increasingly using blogs and other user-generated consumer reporting when deciding what to buy.
In China, word of mouth is trusted much more than marketing or advertising campaigns...western companies planning to sell their goods in China should keep this in mind.
Instead of slick ad campaigns, their money may be better spent in inviting key Chinese bloggers to test their wares and then blog about the products.
Despite government censorship, the internet is still the "freest" space in Chinese society.
Raised on a diet of propaganda in real life, many Chinese are mesmerized by the feeling of authenticity and empowerment that comes with user-generated content.
And the internet has a greater importance in China than it does in other countries, where it is simply another communication or information tool.
In China, through blogs and social networks, the internet is a crucial source of information suppressed in China's traditional media sources.
Bottom line - Google completely misread the Chinese market and culture. The company thought it would impose its vision of the internet on the country. Now that it has failed, it is waving the American flag to cover its lack of success.


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The giant new Greggs bakery in Leicester Square is facing a backlash as Met Police fear problems with "crime and disorder" if it opens later. The popular chain wants to stay open throughout the day and night, serving late-night food and drink from 11pm till 5am at its new flagship store in the West End.
But the Met has objected to the plans. In a letter to Westminster City Council, a representative for the Met said: "It is our belief that if granted, the application could undermine the licensing objectives in relation to the prevention of crime and disorder."
Greggs welcomed hundreds of customers at a grand opening for the new bakery at No. 1 Leicester Square, on Monday July 18. The city centre store sits near M&M World and is close to a casino, McDonalds and Burger King. Customers can order food in store but the shop also has a Click + Collect service.
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Karyn Abbott, a senior licensing officer for the council, said the department is concerned about how the late-night running of the business could impact on public safety, crime and disorder and child welfare. She suggested Greggs reduce opening hours, in line with the council's policy, which states the core hours for fast food venues to stay open is midnight at the latest on Fridays and Saturdays.
Quoting the council's policy, she said: "Although premises which serve cold food and drink are not subject to licensing and may stay open all night, they are not so attractive to people who have been drinking as those providing hot food and drink. The council considers that the addition of hot fast food and hot drink adds to the attractiveness of premises to people who have been drinking and who are more likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour."
A local councillor also objected. In a letter to Westminster, they said they don't think hiring a doorman would be enough to keep trouble at bay while staying open throughout the night. They added: "Fast food premises are recognised as being 'honeypots' for people who have been drinking and retain people in the [area] in direct contravention of the Cumulative Impact Policy which tries to encourage efficient dispersal."
One resident also raised fears that the late opening hours would contribute to obesity and attract drunk people to the area. In a letter to Westminster City Council they said Leicester Square is "one of the most iconic tourist destinations in London" and visited by "families with impressionable young children".
They added: "Given the worsening obesity crisis in The United Kingdom, I believe that this tenant placement is not in the best interests of the health of our nation... I believe that this will encourage intoxicated patrons of this retailer lingering in the vicinity of the address late at night and potentially causing a public nuisance.
"I also predict that this will encourage homeless people to settle in the vicinity of the address in order to beg throughout the night... It is essentially a sausage roll factory 'plonked' in the middle of the West End."
A council report said Greggs has offered to use a constant CCTV system at the premises and have a door supervisor at the site at all times. The company also pledged to remove litter and stop waste building up immediately outside the bakery. Westminster City Council's licensing committee will decide whether the plans can go ahead on Friday July 29. Greggs was contacted for comment.
- Londoners baffled as Greggs reveals bizarre new clothing line with Primark
- American tourist in London brutally mocked for choosing 'worst thing on menu' during first visit to Greggs
- 'I went to the pretty indoor food market you might not know about yet in Central London with £10 to see what I could buy'